Facial Injury and Night Vision Goggles in U.S. Army Helicopter Accidents 1980-2000
Abstract
Night Vision Goggles (NVG) are worn extremely close to the aviator's face, thereby constituting an injury hazard, and head injuries account for 22.9 percent of injuries in survivable U.S. Army helicopter crashes. The most common injury mechanism is contact with cockpit structures, but the extent of facial injury caused by contact with NVGs has never been reported. The U.S. Army Safety Center database was searched for NVG-related injuries in Class A-C accidents from 1980-2000. To estimate the potential protective effect of a face protective visor (FPV), injuries were classified into three categories (probably, possibly, and probably not prevented) based on location. In the 347 survivable Class A-C accidents involving the use of NVGs, 28 aviators in 21 aircraft suffered 35 facial injuries that were definitely ascribed to NVGs. Most NVG-related injuries (80 percent) were 'minimal' or 'minor', and none threatened life or vision. There were 7.2 injured cockpit occupants per 100 Class A-C survivable accidents and 31.9 injured per 100 Class A accidents. There was no difference in injury rate between NVG types or when compared to AH-64A HMD injuries. An FPV might have prevented, or reduced in severity, as much as 85 percent of the injuries. Despite the reassuringly few injuries, serious injury remains a possibility, even in the current generation of aircraft. If a piece of equipment could be devised that prevented the NVGs from hitting the face, but did not have the adverse features of the FPV, injury rates would be reduced and flight safety maintained.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA391990
Entities
People
- John S. Crowley
- Paul A. Cain
Organizations
- United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab